Fuse powder for metal delays



Patented Aug. 28, 1934 1,971,502 FUSE POWDER FOR METAL DELAYS Jean Piccard, Marshallton, Del, assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application May 5, 1932, Serial No. 609,488

25 Claims for example, as a fuse used in connection with delay caps for firing commercial explosives, in fuses for shells, etc.

Heretofore it has been suggested to use as a charge or powder train for a fuse a composition of such character as to not evolve any substantial quantity of gas on burning, thus enabling the use of a ventless casing for caps, shell fuses, etc., with the avoidance in the case of delay caps, of injury to the fuse or premature ignition of the detonating charge and with protection from variation in atmospheric pressure in the case of shell fuses, especially where the shell is fired to a high altitude, as against aeroplanes,

Such composition as heretofore suggested has, for example, comprised an oxidizing agent and an element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System. As the oxidizing agent, for example, barium peroxide, potassium chlorate, potassium permanganate, red lead, or the like, have been suggested and as the element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System, for example, sulphur, selenium or tellurium have been suggested, it being understood that the oxidizing agent and element will be so chosen, respectively, that when burned together no substantial amount of gas will be evolved. Thus, combinations of oxidizing agent and element, such as for example, potassium nitrate and sulphur will not be used together, since, as is well known, when burned together a substantial amount of gas is evolved.

Such composition forms the subject matter of an application for patent filed by Henry E. Nash, Serial No. 542,576, filed June 6, 1931, as a division of an application filed by Henry E. Nash, Serial No. 440,696, filed April 1, 1930.

' While the use as a charge for powder train in fuses of various kinds of the. composition above referred to has proved of large advantage, it has been found that the ingredients react slowly even at low temperatures and hence the composition deteriorates on storage.

Now, it is the object of this invention to provide in such composition against reaction of the ingredients prior to burning and to that end, it has been found that if either of the ingredients of the composition; i.e. the element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System, or the oxidizing agent, or both be coated, the object of this invention will be attained and incidentally the coated ingredients ture of an oxidizing agent and a substance which will be protected from moisture and any deleterious efiect thereof. to the composition.

In accordance with this invention the element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System, or the oxidizing agent, or both are coated with a protected coating, which will prevent reaction between the element and the oxidizing agent prior to burning.

In the practical adaptation of this invention, the element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System, or the oxidizing agent, or both may be coated with any effective coating agent, or shellac, a hard resin, a nitrated carbohydrate, as nitrostarch, nitrocellulose, or, in fact, any substance which preferably will not be sticky, greasy or tacky so as to cause the ingredients to adhere to one an other.

As an illustration of the specific embodiment of this invention, for example, a suitable composition may comprise 85% of barium peroxide admixed with 15% of selenium, the selenium, being coated as, for example, by agitation in a solution of nitrostarch, nitrocotton, shellac, a hard resin, or the like, and the solvent evaporated before admixture with the barium peroxide.

Similarly, a satisfactory composition may be made as indicated where the barium peroxide is coated as described and then mixed with the selenium which may or may not have been also similarly coated.

It will be understood that the composition contemplated by this invention comprises a mixwhen burned with the oxidizing agent will not evolve any substantial amount of gas, as for" example, an element of the right hand column of group VI of the Periodic System, such as sulphur, selenium and tellurium, the substance or element involved in the composition, or the oxidizing agent, or both being coated to render it or them resistant to moisture, as with a nitrated carbohydrate, as nitrostarch, nitrocellulose, with shellac, a hard resin, etc.

It will be understood that the composition in accordance with this invention is adaptable for usegenerally as a fuse powder, in various types of caps, such as delay caps, and in various types of fuses, such as fuses for shells,

The composition in accordance with this invention will be found to have the very definite advantage that the ingredients will not react be fore burning and hence that the composition will not deteriorate on storage, but to the contrary will desirably age and maintain its desired burning rate. The composition will lend itself to use without venting due to the nonevolution of any substantial amount of gas on burning and hence may be used to advantage in ventless delay caps and in shell fuses adapted for firing at high altitudes where the existence of a vent in the fuse is deleterious due to the effect upon the burning rate of the fuse trains due to decrease in pressure at high altitudes.

' What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, includingan oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reacting with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature, and the oxidizing agent and said substance being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, one of said ingredients being coated to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

2. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent, and an element of the group consisting of sulphur,-selenium and tellurium said element being such that when burned together with the oxidizing agent it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved, the said prevent reaction thereof with the oxidizing agent prior to burning.

3. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the oxidizing agent it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous. products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the oxidizing agent being coated to prevent reaction thereof with said element prior to burning.

4. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reaction with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature and which when burned in the presence of the oxidizing agent will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved one of the said ingredients being coated with a nitrated carbohydrate.

5. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group con-- -sisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the oxidizing agent it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the said element being coated with a nitrated carbohydrate.

6. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group conelement being coated to burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the oxidizing agent being coatedwith a nitrated carbohydrate.

7. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the oxidizing agent it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substatntial amountof gaseous products will be evolved, one of the said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose.

8. A composition for useas a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the oxidizing agent it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity ofgaseous products, the said element and oxidizing agent being proportioned so that when tity ofgaseous products, the said element andoxidizing agent being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the oxidizing agent being coated with nitrocellulose.

10. A compositionfor use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and a substancecapable of reaction with barium peroxide below ignition temperature and which will burn in the presence of barium oxide and react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the barium peroxide and said substance being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved one of the said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose.

11. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the barium peroxide it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the barium peroxide being proportioned to the element so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved, one of the said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose.

12. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the barium peroxide and the element being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the said element being'coated with nitrocellulose.

13. A composition -for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter'charge and the like, including barium peroxide and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, said element being such that when burned together with the barium peroxide it will react without the evolution of any substantial quantity of gaseous products, the barium peroxide and the element being proportioned so that when burned no substantial amount of gaseous products will be evolved the barium peroxide being coated with nitrocellulose.

14. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and selenium, one of the said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose.

15. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and selenium, the selenium being coated with nitrocellulose.

16. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including barium peroxide and selenium, the barium peroxide being coated with nitrocellulose.

17. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reacting with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature, the oxidizing agent and said substance being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, one of said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

18. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reacting with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature, the oxidizing agent and said substance being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, one of said ingredients being coated with nitrostarch to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

19. A composition for use as a charge forbeing coated to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

20. A composition for use. as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reacting with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature, the oxidizing agent and said substance being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, both of said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

21. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, includ-- ing an oxidizing agent and a substance capable of reacting with the oxidizing agent below ignition temperature, the oxidizing agent and said substance being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, both of said ingredients being coated with nitrostarch to prevent reaction of the ingredients prior to burning.

22. A composition for use as' a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, the oxidizing agent and said elementbeing so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, one of said ingredients being coated with nitrostarch.

23. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, the oxidizing agent and said element being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, both of said ingredients being coated with a nitrated carbohydrate.

24. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, the oxidizing agent and said element being so proportioned that when bumed no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, both of said ingredients being coated with nitrocellulose.

25. A composition for use as a charge for fuses, as an igniter charge and the like, including an oxidizing agent and an element of the group consisting of sulphur, selenium and tellurium, the oxidizing agent and said element being so proportioned that when burned no substantial quantity of gaseous products will be evolved, both of said ingredients being coated with nitrostarch.

JEAN PICCARD. 

